Oscillation generation



Jan; 28, 1936. c. w. HANSELL 2,028,833

OSCILLATION GENERATION Filed July 14, 1930 v *1/97 86 INVENTOR I CLARENCE W. HANSELL ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2a, 1936 amass osonLa'rIoN onnana'nos Clarence w. Hansell, rm Jefiel'ml'i, N. 2., aa-

llgnor to Radio Corporation of America, acorporation of Delaware A plication July 14, 1930, Serial N0. 487,831 19 Claims. (Cl. 250-38) This invention has asits main object the provision of new and useful methods of and means for the production of electrical alternating oscillations. Broadly, it is an object of this inp vention to produce an electronic discharge or are and, by producing relative motion betweenv the discharge and a conductor, to induce potentials in the conductor by the action of the fields about the are or discharge.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an arc and to provide for the rotation of the same by subjecting it to a magnetic field. Consequently by having one or more conductors in the path of the fields associ- 1g ated with the arc, electrical oscillations will be set up in the conductors.

Still a further object of this invention is to produce oscillations by shock exciting a tuned circult with a traveling or rotating arc.

20 Still another object of this invention is to pro-v vide for the generation of-polyphase currents with a rotating arc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for the modulation and transmission of as the oscillations produced in the manner hereinbefore outlined.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which is only illustrative of the present invention,

Figures 1 and 2-are right angled views, partly 80 in section, of apparatus for producing a rotating electronic discharge in the form of an arc, the arc inducing currents in a nearby conductor,

' Figure 3 discloses apparatus for utilizing a moving arc to shock excites tuned circuit,

85 Figure 4 is a preferred'arrangement of electrodes for shock exciting a tuned circuit,

Figure 5 is a modification of Figure 3 for shock exciting a tuned circuit,

Figure 8 indicates apparatus for modulatin 40 oscillations produced in accordance with the pres ent invention, and

Figure '1 indicates, diagrammatically apparatus forobtaining, according to the present invention, polyphase currents.

45 Turning to Figure 1, by the application of a suitable potential to leads 2, an arc may be set up between an inner circular electrode 4 and an outer annular electrode 0, which electrodes together with conductors t are mounted withinan 50 hermetically sealed container filled with a suitable gas. For the sake of simplicity, the container or envelope has been shown by dotted lines. The container should contain a gas to start an arc, and the gas should be rarified in order to so reduce windage. By means of a solenoid ll,

' over a suitable antenna 42. To improve action preferably placed outside of the container, a magnetic field may be set up in a direction traversing the longitudinal axis of are or electronic dischar e 1!.

Since the are represents a current, application 5 of a magnetic field in the direction shown will cause it to rotate between the inner electrode 4 and the outer electrode 6 which may be supported, as shown in Figure 2, by means of supports I4 and annular insulator l6. Rotation of the are past 0 the pick-up wires 8, joined at their outer extremities as shown by the single conductors IE, will induce potentials therein at a. frequency determined by the pressure of the gas, the strength of the field, and the potential applied to the leads 2.

The oscillations generated may be radiated from the conductors IE or they may be fed into a land line or the like for transmission. Modulation may be accomplished by the application of amplified complex currents through a transformer 20 to the field coils l0, and/or by application of keyed modulating alternating energy through a transformer 22 to the electrodes. In the event that both modulations are to be simultaneously 25 transmitted, the frequency of source 24 should be chosen above the audible range of frequencies, or, beyond the range of frequencies supplied by transformer 20.

The output of the oscillator modulated as de scribed will be frequency modulated energy. In order to obtain, if desired, amplitude modulated energy, the arrangement shown in Figure 6 may be resorted to wherein the oscillator has been diagrammatically indicated by circle 26. The output of the oscillator is fed serially through a resistance in the form of the internal resistance of a thermionic tube 28 varied according to modulation potentials applied to the control electrode 3i! thereof through a transformer 32. Accord- 4o ingly, oscillations of varying amplitude are fed, through a blocking condenser 33 and lead 34, to an amplifier I8 and then, if desired, amplified and transmitted. If found desirable, in addition, a frequency multiplier 38 and a further amplifier 40 may be provided for radiation or transmission of the device, a tuned circuit I00 may be connected as shown ahead of amplifier as.

The rotating arc may also be utilized for generation of oscillations by shock exciting a tuned circuit. Thus, for example, in Figure 3, a tuned circuit 44 is connected to outer terminals or electrodes 46, ll about the center circular electrode ll, through the supports I4 and conductors ll,

' dioelee the the some the rolullonnl A solenoid for prczluolng o momello fielol is on one discharge within soiel enevelope and colon shown dleommmollcelly Only a single one is formed in one errongomeno shown in Elmore 3 as well lne on oment shown in n 1e *or the reason onoe on are is sin-steal, o no flowing ol-eo trodes, confines ioseli to t ofirnoinb moo, point of one use, lee trodes is less the i floor goofing, llgoplico lion of one s ore to rot and jun; re eleolzo' tn olliez-r e W is: cool generation the: no

The cutout c as ShQWlll to o cull no l vd. 1 5,2133 on u: d oezoze L Jilin neollo n electron sliecl'l de-= vice inn fill Sine loo M to We the elieonocle I u e 3on2; oi one o e from in lo onoslier, 13in cones tuned ciecult lo eleol-zo: co lie l one in one of e o cubed. on; Words,

electrode-s may colly about the firmer e Jze or, they use shaped in fashion Kiel; one on: travels along one of the outer electrodes, it is lengthened, Con sequently, by sullslolo dimensioning oi the electrodes, the am will be elonguoecl so it is continu ously rotated. Then, as ll; approaches the near point of the next electrode is will prefer to 31mm to the next elect-rode rather linen continue on the elongated path, As 5.1263557 indlcot-eu, become of the gas present, on arc will loo no, it will inherently limit itself to one nolni sooner produce a plurality of arcs, one between each outer and inn'ee It is not necessary um, in connection Figure the fieouenog? oi one tuned ououiir, Zoe frequency oi the are. Thus, by disposing o plluoli sy oi electrodes 6%, S2, so, about a, central eleon'ocle no shown in Figure 22, onol connecting" olm nole electrodes lo= gecher, o tuned; circuit so, may be timed to e, fre= quenoy equal to twice the sototive sgoeocl of the arc. and, motion of the one from one electrode'to another will properly one tuned circuit lo for oscillation generation, The ouspui; of tuned circuit 30 mey ice amplified in amplifier l2 and. radiated by any suitable radiating; device 3. Modulation may be accomplished in my one of the ways described herelnbefore,

Turning to Figure l, by placing o plurality of pick up wires so, 82, cc of o number correspond ing to the number of phases desired, 1 currents may be set up therein by o rotating ore produced by the enperotus demoed onol cliegrammaticelly indicated by circle 86. If desired, radiation may be me direct from the pick up wires co, 82, co in which case erotstlng beam of energy will be propagated through space.

I claim:

ll In an oscillation generation circuit comprising an envelope and o conductor in close orox= imity to said envelope, the methool of producing electrical oscillations which includes producing cool eocenu uoooeeo llslalng eelatlv e motion between the discharge and the ccnciuc'loz' whereby field of the discharge induces pobellfilfls in the conductor.

2. in an oscillation generation circuit comprising an envelope and a conductor in close proxtliereoo, the methanof producingelectrical oscillations includes producing on ere filo charge in solo. envelope, establishing relative mo um between the discharge and said. conductor wneoelay the magnetic field of the discharge in dunes potentials in the conductor, modulating the oecillellons so prorlucel by varying the magnetic field of one rlisofnezge transmitting the meme lei-col oscillations. r

in on osclfiu slon generation circuit compile ring n filled. envelope and a conductor near sole! envelope, the method of generoting oscillations includes producing on are within said. envelope, and rotating the ore post the conductor to lneluoe oscillations gllel'eln, moduleling the osolllotio so fllmillicfid the role of role- Zion alcl. mo, oncl iunnsmitslng the modulated osoillatlon generation circuit comorisenvelope and conductor in proximity to v suic'l envelope, the method of piocluclng oscillooions which includes producing an arc discharge in said envelope, romlalng the discharge past the concluctoe such that the magnetic field of the discharge induces high frequency potentials in the conductor. I

5. In on oeclllollon generation circuit comprising an envelope and e oonsluctor in proximity to end external of. solo envelope, the method of generating alternating electrical oscillations which includes producing a rotating ore discharge in said envelooe In one direction, subjecting the discharge lo a, magnetic field to produce motion oi the discharge past said conductor wheveby there are induced olternutlng potential oscillations in said conductor.

6. In an oscillation generation circuit compris ing an envelope and e, conductor in proximity to said envelope, the method of generating oscillalions which includes producing" on arc in said envelope, applying a, unidirectional magnetic field lliereto in c direction such that the arc is rotated whereby the magnetic field of the rotating. arc induces ulcernotlng potential oscillations in said conductor.

l. The method of generating high frequency oscillations inn tuned circuitwhicli includes one ducing an arc, continuouslyrototing seldom in one direction only and shock exciting the circuit with sold are discharge, I

8. The method of generating oscillatory currents in a tuned circuit which includes proclaim ing on are, establishing continuous motion of sold ore in only one direction, and alternately conmeeting said are with opposite terminals of the tuned circuit as said are moves in salcl one direction.

9. An oscillation generator comprising o sealed envelope containing within it a. gas and a. plurality of electrodes, means for producing an are between two electrodes within said envelope, a circuit for util the oscillations produced by sold genorator including a conductor, and means for substontially continuously rotating the arc in a single direction past said conductor for setting up electrical currents therein.

10. An oscillation generator comprising moons for producing an are, means for continuously so toting the ore, and o conductor in the path 01 the ously rotating the arc,

magnetic field of the rotating arc whereby currents are electromagnetically induced therein.

11. An oscillation generator comprising means for producing an are, means for establishing motion of said are by subjecting the arc to a magnetic field, and a conductor in close proximity to the are adapted to have potentials induced therein by the magnetic action of said arc.

12. In a signaling system, means for producing an arc, means for producing an electromagnetic field in a direction traversing the longitudinal axis of the arc whereby the arc is rotated, and means including a conductor in the path of the magnetic field of the rotating are whereby currents are electromagnetically induced therein.

13. In a signaling system a circular electrode, another electrode about said circular electrode, means for applying a potential difference across said electrodes whereby an arc is formed, means for applying a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the-axis of. the arc whereby the arc is rotated, and a conductor in close proximity to said are adapted to have electrical currents set up therein due to the rotation oi the arc.

14. An oscillation generator comprising means including a pair of electrodes which are substantially concentric for producing an arc, a magnet coil arranged around said generator for continuand a conductor in the path of the magnetic field of the are adapted to have potentials produced therein by the action of the arc.

15. In a signaling system, a gas filled envelope, a circular electrode within said envelope, another electrode substantially concentric with and surrounding at least partially said circular electrode, a source of potential external. or said envelope and connected'to both of said electrodes for producing an are, a magnet coil surrounding said envelope for establishing a rotating motion of said arc, and utilization means responsive to motion of said arc whereby alternating currents are produced therein.

16. A system as defined in claim 15 characterized in this, that said magnet coil is energized by a source of. unidirectional potential which sets up a magnetic field in a direction traversing the ion- I gitudinal axis of said arc.

17. An oscillation generator system comprising a gas filled envelope, a circular electrode within said envelope, two comma shaped electrodes surrounding at least partially said circular electrode on opposite sides thereof, a source of potential external of said envelope and connected to said circular electrode and to said comma shaped electrodes for producing an are between said circular z electrode and said comma shaped electrodes, and

means surrounding said envelope for establishing a rotating motion of said arc, and utilization means responsive to motion of said arc adapted to have alternating currents produced therein.

18. An oscillation generator comprising a pair of substantially concentric and coplanar electrodes, a source of potential connected between said pair of electrodes for producing an are therebetween, a magnet coil arranged around said generator for continuously rotating the arc, and a conductor in the path of the are adapted to have potentials produced therein by the action of. the

arc.

19. In a signaling system, a gas filled envelope, a circular electrode within said envelope, an arcuate-shaped electrode substantially concentric with and surrounding at least partially said circular electrode, a source or potential external of said envelope and connected to both of said electrodes for producing an arc, a magnet coil surrounding said envelope for establishing a rotating motion or said are, and utilization means responsive to motion or said are whereby alternating currents are produced therein.

- I CLARENCE W. HANSEIL. 

